Join us

Would you like to join the adventure? We are always looking for more members but especially new adult helpers.

Joining as a Cub
Cubs are aged 8 to 10½ years old and can be boys or girls. We operate a waiting list as Beaver Scouts transferring to the pack (and the children of our leaders and helpers) always take priority. If you would like to add your name to the list please send us your details using our new joiner form. The form is sent to our Membership Secretary.
Cub aged joiners from the waiting list and the colony are shared between us and Dauxwood pack (Wednesday night). If you have a particular preference for which night you want to attend then do pop that on the form – although it may delay your joining if your chosen pack does not have places.

Media policyAt Parbrook Cubs we are very proud of our website and we know that our members value our use of social media to keep updated when we are at camp or on one of our expeditions. We also try to keep our profile high by getting occasional articles in the local press. For that reason it is a condition of becoming a member of Parbrook Cubs that you consent to having your picture used in this way.

Opportunities for adultsIt’s not just kids stuff. We’ve always got room for extra regular helpers, so if you’d like to take a more active role in our pack just ask. Your skills and new ideas could be just what we need and you might find that you enjoy it too. You don’t have to be a Cub parent or wear uniform but you may like to take advantage of Scout Association training that will be available to you.
Please note that all adults that are in contact with the children in our care have to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service – sometimes referred to as CRB) check. The leaders can tell you more about what this involves or you can contact our Group Scout Leader.

Here are some of the roles that we are looking to fill:

Occasional helper: We welcome additional help at our pack meetings, particularly those outside when we go to the woods. There is no long term commitment but if you have specific skills that we can use then please let us know. If you’d like to do something more regularly then please let us know. You do not need to have completed a Scouting DBS check. However, if you think that you might like to help more regularly, or you would like to help with our camps or expeditions then you will need to complete a DBS check. You can start the process by completing our online form.

Helper at camp: We do a lot of camping in order to deliver our promise of at least one night away a term. We’ve always got room for extra adult helpers – you don’t always have to actually camp with us but you’ll be part of the team. For example:

transporting the gear

help pitching the tents before the Cubs arrive – there is always a lot to do at the start of camp and not always a lot of time to do it. Extra help is always welcome.

helping run the activities – come and camp with us and experience a Cub Camp from the inside. We can always find you something to do

building the camp fire – we have been fortunate to have Hawkeye, Rama and Mike who like their fire building. A camp fire is an important part of our Saturday evening at a weekend camp so are you able to take the challenge of building our fire? There will be other things to do during the weekend and leading the songs when the fire is alight does not have to be included (unless you can teach us some new ones)

helping in the kitchen – we are very fortunate to have Marian as part of our camping team. She plans the menus, buys the food and conjures up great meals at camp. This is not an easy task – cooking for 20 to 30 people in a field with no fridge or oven and just 3 gas rings is tricky. We’re looking for one or two people who would like to camp with us and help with the food preparation. You wouldn’t be in the kitchen all the time – you would get plenty of opportunity to join in with the activities too.

clearing up the site on the last day – lending a hand with the things we have to do before we go. It isn’t glamorous work – emptying the bins, mopping the floors, cleaning the toilets and cooker, putting chairs/tables back into the buildings etc

help taking down the tents – the leaders will have been working hard all weekend and it is always a relief to see some new people arrive when we are tired at the end of camp. Packing things away properly makes it easier next time we need to use them.

looking after our equipment – a Parbrook Quartermaster – the group has a very good one but we could do with somebody who knows their way around a tent and could keep an eye on our camping equipment. You wouldn’t have to camp with us (although you would be very welcome) but would be able to check that the tents and equipment are all complete and ready when we need it.

All adults that stay overnight have to have Scouting DBS clearance as “Occasional helpers” so please let us know in plenty of time so that the paperwork can be completed – or start the process yourself by completing our online form.

Pack Assistant: We are looking for keen adults to assist the Cub Scout leaders. We’re looking for people who could come along most weeks as it is only by coming regularly that you get to know the way we work and feel part of our leadership team. You don’t have to be a Cub Scout parent to be a helper. You would not be expected to wear uniform or to undertake training – although both can be available to you.

Uniformed Leader: We are looking for keen adults to become Cub Scout leaders. You’d be an energetic person who gets on well with 8 to 11 year olds (and can cope with the noise that they make). We’re looking for people who could come along most weeks and work as part of the leadership team. Your first uniform would be provided by us once you have been interviewed by the District Appointments Committee. As a warranted leader you make a commitment to undertake training. You don’t have to be a Cub Scout parent to become a leader.

Group Exec representative: The Group Executive Committee of Billingshurst Scout and Guide group exists to look after the hall and the assets of the group. It is also responsible for group fundraising (although not our Painless Fundraising). They like to have a representative from each section at their monthly meetings which usually take place on a Monday evening.

Painless fundraiser: We’re very proud of our Parbrook fundraising that allows us to keep our costs down without having to keep asking you for money. However, we could do even more if everybody signed up and used our Easyfundraising service. We need a helper to promote Easyfundraising to our parents and their friends. A range of marketing materials are available from Easyfundraising to help you and you wouldn’t have to come to any pack meetings.

You can find out more information about joining the Scout Association and see the wide range of roles and opportunities available by visiting the Scout HQ website.

Supporting us in other ways
Giving up time is not the only way you can help us. Anybody can support Parbrook Cubs by visiting our Easyfundraising site when you shop online. Register for gift aid and you’ll be helping the group at the same time. If you run a charity that would also like to sign up to Easyfundraising then do it from our link and we’ll get a bonus for referring you.